I think we can all be certain that the suits are here to stay -- love them, hate them, it does not really matter -- Speedo, TYR and the others will not allow the suits to all over sudden disappear.
But, we as Masters swimmers have to make a decision about our own reasoning to compete -- why do we compete in swim meets ?
There are many reasons - social, participating in a sport beats the hell out of watching one on TV and so on --- but for me, 2 of the main reasons are the competition aspects. We obviously compete against other swimmers --- but more than maybe many other sports, we compete against ourselves. I can tell you my best 100 Free from every season over the last 30 years (10 of which I did not compete).
I have used most of the suits and did very well -- I set some personal bests and also achieved some record swims, but I have no idea how my times really compare to other seasons. I can keep telling myself that all that speedwork and lifting paid off - but I just don't know.
I like to give a golf comparison -- let's say you have a home course and you always shoot in the low 90s going from the Blue Tees --- well guess what, if you are going from the white tees you will probably average high 80s and going from the red you may get down to the mid to low 80s. But you are not a better player because of it. The LZR seems to be the "white tees" and the new Jaked suit may be the "red tees".
I think we really have to make a decision now to what matters more -- your personal records and history of swimming or the competition against other swimmers ? For me, this may change from meet to meet - but I must be able to stay honest with myself and be able to compare my times -- I do not want to be cheating myself.
Old generations suits (Fastskin Pro) only for: all major Masters meets (individual swims) except for Worlds. That means, I am ok to lose a few places in a meet, in order to know what my time really means. I could just go really old school -- but I think the older generation suits are pretty equal to shaving -- and they allow you to be "shaved" and swim fast in season, which is a huge plus.
LZR / Blue70 for: relays, Worlds and maybe some USS meets, if I am going for a time standard. I want to give any relay my fastest time possible - I swimming Worlds to win the title, so if others use the suits, I will have to do the same - if I go to USS meets, I may use them to get into the finals or to make a time standard for a big meet.
It may take some adjustments - but I think it will work --
Who is with me ?
I think the Jaked is so much faster based on 2 things -
- the reports from Europe are just beyond anything we have seen (the Breaststroker from Holland droppig 1.5 sec in the 100 in a time trial compared to the LZR - people dropping 3-5 sec in the 200
- I have worn the Blue 70 and the LZR - both are fast, but for different reasons. Looks like Jaked merged the two -- compression, material and design.
Fortress - you are correcting me only on a mistake, on the other issues your simply stating a different opinion, which makes this whole discussion interesting. I do fail to understand why you are very sensitive about being judged while maintaining a blog ???
Ah, I see, I guess that is what I had heard about the construction ... 3-5 seconds in a 200 over and above what they've swum in a LZR? That's pretty stunning ... Certainly can see why that kind of time drop would raise people's hackles.
I was actually also correcting you for flatly stating that the blame/fault/responsibility, in fact, lies with "all of us" masters for wearing the suits. Many squarely refute this. By definition, then, your statement was objectively incorrect. You overreached by attempting to impose or extrapolate a subjective feeling you have onto everyone else by use of the words "we" and "us" instead of just sticking with "I.". I understand that you personally feel that way. But you can always hang up your LZR and B70, rather than asking others to do so or telling/informing them the situation is their fault.
The tech suit debate has largely ceased to be very interesting. As others have noted, everyone has long since staked out a position. Perhaps the Jaked adds a new twist to the analysis, but, as noted, as yet, it hardly applies to masters swimming, the topic of this thread.
As for my blog, I don't see your point. You think people keep training blogs to be judged?
I think the Jaked is so much faster based on 2 things -
- the reports from Europe are just beyond anything we have seen (the Breaststroker from Holland droppig 1.5 sec in the 100 in a time trial compared to the LZR - people dropping 3-5 sec in the 200
- I have worn the Blue 70 and the LZR - both are fast, but for different reasons. Looks like Jaked merged the two -- compression, material and design.
Fortress - you are correcting me only on a mistake, on the other issues your simply stating a different opinion, which makes this whole discussion interesting. I do fail to understand why you are very sensitive about being judged while maintaining a blog ???
Ah, I see, I guess that is what I had heard about the construction ... 3-5 seconds in a 200 over and above what they've swum in a LZR? That's pretty stunning ... Certainly can see why that kind of time drop would raise people's hackles.
I was actually also correcting you for flatly stating that the blame/fault/responsibility, in fact, lies with "all of us" masters for wearing the suits. Many squarely refute this. By definition, then, your statement was objectively incorrect. You overreached by attempting to impose or extrapolate a subjective feeling you have onto everyone else by use of the words "we" and "us" instead of just sticking with "I.". I understand that you personally feel that way. But you can always hang up your LZR and B70, rather than asking others to do so or telling/informing them the situation is their fault.
The tech suit debate has largely ceased to be very interesting. As others have noted, everyone has long since staked out a position. Perhaps the Jaked adds a new twist to the analysis, but, as noted, as yet, it hardly applies to masters swimming, the topic of this thread.
As for my blog, I don't see your point. You think people keep training blogs to be judged?
